2025-11-30T19:59:41-05:00

December 1st Newsletter

November 30, 2025November 30, 2025/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

DollCanCreate • Grannie-Core Living • Slow Wool • 100-Mile Life

Hello, dear friends — and happy December.

There is something sacred about turning the calendar to the final month of the year. The air feels softer and quieter. It is as if the world itself is settling under a quilt of frost. It whispers, “Slow down now. You’ve made it this far.”

This season, I’m choosing to start not with hustle, but with gentleness.

Not with rushing, but with roots.

Not with a to-do list, but with a warm mug between my hands.

Let’s step into December together the Grannie-Core way: slowly, creatively, and with gratitude.

🧶 This Week in the Wool Basket

Spindle spinning has become my Advent practice this year — a tiny daily rhythm that invites stillness.

I’m working with local DK wool (you know my heart!) and letting the colours of early winter guide me:

soft rose, lilac, winter sky blue, fawn, and natural white.

Current Projects:

Knitting mittens (warm hands, warm heart) Spindling a little each day — #SlowSpinAlong continues in my heart, a cozy shawl for these short December days Small handmade gifts… the quiet work of love

If you need a gentle pause today, pick up whatever is on your needles and breathe slowly.

You don’t have to finish it.

Just start.

🌾 100 Mile Life Notes

December can be overwhelming, but the 100-Mile Life keeps me grounded.

This week I’m sourcing:

Local eggs Winter vegetables from a nearby farm Dairy from 30 minutes away Fresh bread from our neighbourhood bakery

Little choices woven together make a life that feels like home.

If you’re walking this journey with me, here’s your reminder:

It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just intentional.

One local choice at a time.

☕ In the Cozy Kitchen

Winter kitchen rhythms are my favourite. This week I’m making:

A simple carrot–leek bisque A pot of cinnamon-apple oats Freshly roasted root vegetables A pan of quick-bread cinnamon buns (Grannie-Core approved)

There’s something grounding about stirring a pot while snow taps at the window.

🕯 Gentle Advent Reflection

December 1 often lands near the start of Advent. This is the season of waiting and watching. It involves breathing hope into the world again.

The question I’m sitting with today:

Where is peace trying to find me?

Not where I should feel peaceful…

but where peace is already brushing up against my day:

the quiet corner of the couch,

the soft knitting in my hands,

the laughter of family,

the steady rhythm of prayer.

Let’s carry that with us as the month unfolds.

📹 Coming up on YouTube

This week on DollCanCreate:

Vlogmas/Spindlemas Day 1 — a gentle start, spindle spinning + cozy homemaking Handmade Peace: a quiet reflection on slowing down in December A local-living kitchen video

Make sure your tea is ready — December is going to be beautifully slow.

🎄 A Simple December Invitation

Before you dive into the bustle, ask yourself:

What do I want December to feel like?

Then choose one small habit that supports that feeling.

A five-minute tidy.

A cup of tea before screens.

A few rows of knitting before bed.

A blessing whispered over your day.

Small is enough.

Small is holy.

💌 From My Heart to Yours

Thank you for being here — for reading, crafting, spinning, praying, and living gently alongside me.

May your December begin with softness,

a warm shawl around your shoulders,

and the steady reassurance that

slow living is not falling behind — it’s catching up with your soul.

With love,

Grannie Doll

DollCanCreate

Grocery Savings Without Feeling Deprived

September 19, 2025/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

“Embracing the 100 Mile Life for sustainable living”

Living a 100 Mile Life can seem like it cost more. This involves sourcing as much of our food, fibers, and essentials from within a 100-mile radius. But here’s the truth: When you embrace seasonal eating, you can discover grocery savings. Shopping local produce doesn’t leave you feeling deprived. In fact, the 100 Mile Life can actually make your meals richer, simpler, and more budget-friendly.

1. Shop Seasonal, Shop Abundant for Grocery Savings

One of the best grocery savings tips is buying what’s in season. Local fruits and vegetables are most affordable when they’re abundant. Instead of expensive imported strawberries in January, enjoy crisp apples in September, squash in October, or sweet corn in July.

GrandmaCore wisdom: Buy in bulk when harvests are plentiful. A bushel of tomatoes or apples costs less per pound. With a little preserving, you’ll enjoy budget-friendly seasonal meals all winter.

2. Build Relationships With Local Farmers

Knowing your farmer means knowing your food—and often, saving money. Regular visits to a farm stand or market can result in small discounts. You will get bonus extras, like “take these cucumbers, they’re odd-shaped.” Sometimes, you can even barter. Supporting local farmers not only strengthens community, it helps you cut costs compared to supermarket shopping.

3. Embrace Simple, Frugal Meals

Local ingredients often encourage simpler recipes. A hearty soup made from root vegetables, beans, and fresh herbs can be filling and healthy. It can cost far less than take-out. These meals embody frugal grocery shopping while connecting you back to traditions of home-cooked care.

4. Reduce Waste and Stretch Your Grocery Budget

When you buy farm fresh food, it often lasts longer. Still, reducing waste is key. Roast beet greens with the roots, simmer chicken bones for broth, shred day-old bread into croutons. These small choices stretch every ingredient, creating grocery budget hacks that save you more than you realize.

5. Redefine “Treats” in the 100 Mile Life

A cinnamon bun from a local bakery, a wedge of regional cheese, or berries you picked yourself—these become meaningful luxuries. Because they’re intentional rather than impulse buys, you savor them more deeply while keeping your grocery budget in check.

The Joy of Enough

The secret to saving money on groceries without feeling deprived is embracing the joy of enough. Focus on seasonal eating. Support local farmers. Practice mindful shopping. You’ll find the 100 Mile Life doesn’t shrink your world. It expands it in surprising and satisfying ways.

✨ Friend, what’s one local food swap you’ve made that saved you money? Share it in the comments—I’d love to hear!

💛
With gratitude and hope,
Grannie Doll

Support Local Producers: A 100-Mile Journey

September 16, 2025/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Day 16

Theme: Let’s connect a little deeper with the people who make your local food and goods.

Daily Task (active + simple)

Take 20–45 minutes to map local producers within your 100-mile radius. Include farmers, mills, and bakers. Add yarn shops, honey producers, and maple syrup makers. Don’t forget cheesemakers, co-ops, and thrift stores.
Pick one maker you don’t already buy from and plan a visit (or order one small item). If you can’t visit today, send an email or message. Ask them their story — who they are. Inquire about what they raise or make. Request one tip for shoppers.

Quick 100-mile recipe — Maple Pork Chop with Roasted Root Veggies

(Uses local pork, apples, maple syrup, root veg)

Ingredients (serves 2)

2 local pork chops (about 150–200 g each)
1 tbsp local maple syrup
1 tsp mustard (local or pantry)
1 apple, sliced thin (local)
2 medium potatoes, cut into wedges (local)
2 carrots, cut on the diagonal (local)
1 small onion, quartered (local)
1 tbsp olive oil (or local butter)
Salt & pepper, dried herbs (rosemary/thyme)

Method (30–40 min)

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Toss potatoes, carrots, onion with oil, salt, pepper, and herbs; roast on a tray for 25–30 min until golden.
Meanwhile, heat a skillet. Sear pork chops 3–4 min per side until golden. Reduce heat; add apple slices to pan, pour on maple + mustard, spoon over chops and let glaze finish for 2–3 min.
Rest chops 3 minutes. Serve with roasted veg and apples. Portion control: 1 chop + generous veg + 1 apple half per person.

Storage tip: If you bought extra local apples or veg, slice the apples thin. Dry them in the oven at a low temperature. Alternatively, simmer them in a little syrup to make a small jar of apple compote. It freezes or jars well.

Mini Craft / Maker-Love Activity (10–20 min)

Make a small thank-you/label card to include with your purchase from that maker. Add a hand-drawn logo or floral border. Include a short note: Example : “Bought with gratitude — Doll Creelman / 100-Mile Life.” Snap a photo for your socials.

Journal / Reflection Prompts

Who made the food in my kitchen today? Name them.
What surprised me about that maker’s story?
How does knowing who made my food change the way I eat or store it?
One small step I can take to support a local maker this week is…

Short devotional

“Small hands and steady work make the table possible. Today, by meeting a maker, we practice gratitude and stewardship — small choices that stitch us into our local community.”

Day-16 Checklist

Map 5 nearby makers (farm, mill, baker, yarn shop, co-op)
Visit or message one maker today
Buy one small local item (support local!)
Make a thank-you/label card to include with purchase
Cook the Maple Pork Chop recipe or try a local ingredient in a new way
Journal one reflection (line space)

“Little steps make a big difference. May peace and gratitude carry you through today.”

— Grannie Doll

Let’s slow down our crafting

May 12, 2025/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Using crafting to slow down is a beautiful, intentional practice. It invites you to be present, mindful, and rooted in the moment. Here’s how to do it:

Let’s slow down our crafting. Which of these steps will you try?

1. Set the Intention

Before you start, take a breath and tell yourself, “This is time to slow down.”
Light a candle, say a short prayer, or play calming music—create a ritual that marks this as sacred, restful time.

2. Choose Slow Crafts

Pick crafts that can’t be rushed: hand stitching, spindle spinning, hand knitting, embroidery, or weaving.
These crafts naturally need a rhythm and patience, helping shift your body and mind to a slower pace.

3. Craft Without Pressure

Let go of productivity goals. Don’t worry about deadlines or finished objects.
Focus on the feel of the yarn, the movement of your hands, or the rhythm of the stitches.

4. Be Fully Present

Notice the textures, colours, sounds, and even the little imperfections.
If your mind wanders, gently return to your hands—what they’re touching, creating, and shaping.

5. Connect Spiritually

Use crafting as a form of prayer, meditation, or gratitude. Say a prayer with each stitch or dedicate your work to someone.
Consider on scriptures or quiet thoughts as you work.

6. Limit Distractions

Craft in a quiet space or with minimal digital interruptions.
Leave your phone out of reach, or set it to “Do Not Disturb.”

7. Craft Outdoors or Near Nature

Take your knitting to the porch, or embroider by a window. Let the natural world support your slowing down.

Journal Prompt: Slowing Down Through Crafting

Take a deep breath. Let your hands rest on your project. Consider on the next:

1. What drew me to pick up this craft today?

2. How does the rhythm of this work affect my body, mind, or spirit right now?

End with this question. What is one small way I can carry the spirit of this slow moment into the rest of my day?

Many blessings,

Doll

100 Mile Journey Check-in March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Embarking on a Hundred Mile Life—sourcing essentials within a 100-mile radius—has come with its share of challenges. Here’s how I’m tackling them:

Budget Challenges & Solutions

Local products can be more expensive, so I need to cut back elsewhere.
Reviewing subscriptions to streaming services:
- Prioritizing only what we actually use.
- Canceling unnecessary ones to free up funds for local purchases.
Reducing unnecessary delivery costs:
- Checking if I’m paying for services I don’t need.
- Finding ways to replace delivery items with local alternatives.

Finding Local Alternatives

Some items are harder to find, like canned goods and long-term storage items.
Farmers’ markets will be opening soon—good opportunities to stock up.
Meat sourcing has been a challenge:
- Local meats can be pricey but not impossible to find.
- Found a store in Hamilton with its own meat processing plant—more affordable and transparent.
- Whole chickens are cheaper there than at big-box stores.

Tracking Local vs. Non-Local Spending

Need a better way to measure how much I’m truly sourcing locally.
Planning to use YNAB (You Need a Budget) to:
- Separate spending into “local” and “non-local” categories.
- Analyze where I can improve and adjust.

Minimizing Delivery Costs

Ensuring delivery services are within the 100-mile radius.
Already have local options for dairy, produce, and coffee:
- Dairy: Prepaid for a year’s worth of delivery.
- Produce: Can pick up for free in Ancaster (15–20 min away).
- Coffee: Found a local roaster that delivers affordably.
Planning errands efficiently to reduce fuel costs when picking up local goods.

Looking Ahead

Expecting more challenges but staying flexible and creative.
The goal is sustainability—balancing cost, convenience, and commitment to local sourcing.
Continuing to track progress and refine strategies.

Have you tried focusing on local purchases? What obstacles have you encountered, and how did you overcome them?

Let’s start a conversation. What steps will you take this weekend?

Till again,

Doll from DollCanCreate

Self-Care, Mindful Rest & Creativity: A Day in My Life

February 18, 2025/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Hi everyone, it’s Doll from Doll Can Create and You can too.

Today, I want to talk a little bit about self-care—taking care of myself. You can probably tell from my voice that I’m just a little under the weather, though I’m feeling better than I was. I just wanted to set this up, so it looks okay—there we go.

So, I was watching a YouTube channel by Transformed Homemakers Society, and she was talking about a dopamine menu. I thought, “Okay, I’ve never heard of that before.” So, I jotted down a few things. But what really caught my attention was the idea of mindful rest—not just collapsing into bed from exhaustion, but purposeful napping.

Sometimes, when we are feeling low energy, we beat ourselves up over unfinished tasks. But when you are sick with a cold, self-care must come first, right? A few things from the video stood out to me, and I will try to remember to link it below because I found it useful.

Simple self-care activities like getting fresh air, watering plants, journaling, crafting, listening to music, thrifting, and gardening can make a significant impact. Even small tasks, like watering plants, can bring joy—seeing them soak up water and thrive the next day is a little reward.

Then there are the tasks I tend to put off, like changing the bedding. It takes five minutes, yet I procrastinate. Why? Once it is done, you feel accomplished, and then you can nap without guilt. Laundry is another one—it only takes five to ten minutes to start, yet I hesitate. But once it is going, it’s done, and I can move on to something else (or, again, take a guilt-free rest!).

There is this misconception that slowing down is laziness, or that we don’t deserve rest. But we do. You are important. You matter—to yourself and to others. And as the saying goes, you must fill your own cup first.

So, what am I doing today? Well, I started some laundry and changed two beds—one in the office and one in the bedroom. I went upstairs to feed the cat and water his plants. I even stepped outside for a few minutes to get some fresh air and clear the steps of snow.

Another thing that helps me when I am feeling sick is watching my favorite YouTube channels and listening to motivational speakers—people who have struggled and found a way through. It is a reminder that we all go through tough moments, and sometimes, we need to lean on others for guidance and encouragement.

Of course, if you have followed me for a while, you know I create things. Right now, I’m working on a sock, a sweater, and a hat. My goal is to finish the sock by the end of the month—sooner, if possible. Knitting is mostly what I am doing today. A few days ago, during the storm, I barely managed a couple of rows. Yesterday, I felt better and made more progress. You can only push yourself so far, right?

I am also working on my to-do list (or as I like to call it, my to-done list). Here’s what’s on it:

Sending out an email [done]

Taking out the trash and recycling

Planning videos and social media posts

Filling Nick’s medication tray

Looking for a good protein ball recipe

Continuing with my budgeting

Time-blocking the week (though, since this is turning into a sick week, I might have to be flexible)

House chores like sweeping, swiffering, and picking up (hopefully, I can delegate some of that to Nick!)

One tool I use is the Eisenhower Matrix, sorting tasks into urgent/important, urgent/not important, things I can delegate, and things that are not important right now. That way, I know what truly needs my attention and what can wait.

But enough about me—what are you doing today? Do you have a plan for the week? I’d love to hear how you organize your tasks. Do you use an online calendar, a bullet journal, or a happy planner? Let me know! For now, I’m going to keep knitting—working on socks, a hat, and a sweater. If you have any questions about any of those projects, just ask! I love helping others with their creative pursuits.

Oh, and my rabbit just decided to make a racket with the water bottle, so I guess that’s my cue to wrap things up!

I hope this post has been inspiring. Even when you’re feeling low, you can find little things to lift your spirit—and remember, a nap is always a good thing.

This is Doll from Doll Can Create and you can too. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share. See you in the next one!

Bye for now!

The 100-Mile Life: Exploring Local Food Choices

January 27, 2025/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Hello, my friends! Have you ever stopped to think about where your food comes from? Is it flown in from thousands of kilometers away or sourced just down the road?

Welcome! This is Doll from Doll Can Create, where I share my journey of crafting and living intentionally. Today, I’m diving into the second set of rules I’ve created for my 100-Mile Life Experiment.

Rule #1: Use What You Have

In my last post, I talked about sourcing local wool for my knitting and crafting projects. While I work towards fully local wool, I’ve also committed to using what I already have. My Sophie scarf, for example, was made from yarn already in my stash. It may not be local, but it’s a step toward sustainability.

Now, I’m turning my attention to food—where it’s grown, processed, and packaged. My goal is to source as much as possible from within a 100-mile radius of my home.

Rule #2: Local Meat

Finding locally sourced meat is tricky. Many grocery store options are imported, like New Zealand lamb. However, I know of at least one local processor, and I’m exploring food delivery services that prioritize local meat.

Prepared products require extra scrutiny—labels often reveal where meat was packaged, which may or may not meet my 100-mile rule. It’s all about reading labels and asking questions.

Rule #3: Local Cookies and Baking

When it comes to snacks, I’m rethinking my choices. For instance, Oreos are made in Montreal, which is outside my 100-mile zone. Instead, I’m revisiting local options like Dare cookies or baking my own treats.

To support this, I’ve revived my sourdough starter. The warmer temperature in my apartment has helped it thrive, and I’m excited to bake bread again. I’m also researching local grain mills for flour from nearby farms.

Rule #4: Produce and Dairy

Winter makes sourcing fresh, local produce challenging, but I’ve found creative solutions:

Local dairy: Summit Dairy, just outside Ancaster, produces excellent products from its own herd. While slightly more expensive, their milk, cream, and chocolate milk are worth it.
Produce options: I’ve started using services like Produce Express, which allows me to choose local fruits and vegetables.
Sprouting at home: To enjoy fresh greens year-round, I’ve begun sprouting mung beans, radishes, and pea shoots. It’s a quick and satisfying way to supplement my diet with homegrown nutrients.

A Few Exceptions

Of course, I have a few items that I’m allowing myself to buy outside the 100-mile rule, like matcha tea, green tea, and coffee. But even here, I plan to transition to local roasters once my current stash is used up.

Sharing the Journey

This journey is just beginning, and I’m excited to share more about my research and discoveries in future posts. From finding local suppliers to adapting recipes, it’s an adventure in mindful living.

What about you? Does the idea of sourcing food locally appeal to you, or does it feel daunting? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time, this is Doll from Doll Can Create, reminding you that you can too. Let’s create a more intentional, sustainable life together.

Stay tuned, and bye for now! Blessings to you.

100 Mile Life/Grandma Core